Is Gamestop Evil? The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

[MrPopo]

Yeah, I think that practice was the original reason this thread started.

[brunoafh]

Hell, Gamestop has tried to sell me blatantly un-shrink-wrapped games for $60 "new" before (multiple times, multiple locations).

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

GameStop was sued over this last year and won.

The customers argued on the same points as you guys and everything they tried was defeated because of two things.

1) Employees aren't allowed to check-out brand new games. District managers actively check all check-out logs where the title and sku number (Along with employee's signature) are recorded in the back of the store log at the end of each month.

2) Gutted games are new, they have been removed from the case to prevent anyone from stealing the case off the sales floor. The disc itself is un-played and just transferred to a BRAND NEW white paper sleeve.

The best/worst analogy is that it's like a car or a book on the shelf at a store. You can get the fresh and completely new ones for a good while when they come out, or even order one in advance. But don't expect to come by months later and grab one that doesn't have a few miles on it or some weathering. You can argue all you want, but it's the definition of new that's being argued and the games themselves haven't been played. If you see a store checking out new games to an employee report it to your local district manager and see it all stop, fast.

They can return it if there isn't a single blemish on it and resell it as new, but that's all up to the manager on duty's decision and if they say no, then that's it.

[brunoafh]

I've always wondered why Gamestop puts the cases for new games on display at all. It doesn't really make any sense to me.

On that note, when I pre-ordered Sengoku Basara 3 from there back when it came out, they tried to sell me the display copy. I asked for a new copy (assuming that maybe I'd get the one I pre-ordered?) and they told me that was the only copy they had. Asked for a refund and walked out.

[AznKhmerBoi]

hahah i hear and experience too many bad things from gamestop so i stop going there.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I've always wondered why Gamestop puts the cases for new games on display at all. It doesn't really make any sense to me.

On that note, when I pre-ordered Sengoku Basara 3 from there back when it came out, they tried to sell me the display copy. I asked for a new copy (assuming that maybe I'd get the one I pre-ordered?) and they told me that was the only copy they had. Asked for a refund and walked out.

In that case you were in the right. They're never supposed to gut a pre-ordered copy. This is where the phone call to a district manager comes in and employees get set straight.

They have to gut the cases because they don't get display cover art for anything other than certain titles. We're not allowed to print our own copies of the cover art or anything (just the generic crap) for the same reason Blockbuster and Hollywood video got screwed over. Publishers sued and won over copyright infringement and they have to either buy reams of the stuff for every store from the publishers or gut extra copies. Now add in the fact that the "reams" (As publishers call them) of paper are only 5 sheets and cost $60 per game and you have a whole lot of money there vs gutting games you already have.

[SwooshBear]

Went to Gamestop today for Modern Warfare 3 preorder. Pay $5 and you get a free poster. My local gamestop only had ten left when I got there.

[pepharytheworm]

1) Employees aren't allowed to check-out brand new games. District managers actively check all check-out logs where the title and sku number (Along with employee's signature) are recorded in the back of the store log at the end of each month.

You got a direct quote that says Gamestop doesn't let employee's check out brand new games. I was written up as a store manager because I wouldn't let my employee's check out New Games, because I didn't think it was right to sell used games as new. One of the employee's who was mad, contacted Corporate, which in turn got in contact with The RM and then the DM, who told me I was to follow company policy and could only not let employee's check-out new games if there weren't enough to sell, the employee abused the check out policy, or already had a game checked out.

So I circumvented this by taking pictures of new games checked out once returned, if there was any mark or finger print I would write them up then suspend their New Check-out priviledges. Turned it in to the DM and it was fine.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

1) Employees aren't allowed to check-out brand new games. District managers actively check all check-out logs where the title and sku number (Along with employee's signature) are recorded in the back of the store log at the end of each month.

You got a direct quote that says Gamestop doesn't let employee's check out brand new games. I was written up as a store manager because I wouldn't let my employee's check out New Games, because I didn't think it was right to sell used games as new. One of the employee's who was mad, contacted Corporate, which in turn got in contact with The RM and then the DM, who told me I was to follow company policy and could only not let employee's check-out new games if there weren't enough to sell, the employee abused the check out policy, or already had a game checked out.

So I circumvented this by taking pictures of new games checked out once returned, if there was any mark or finger print I would write them up then suspend their New Check-out priviledges. Turned it in to the DM and it was fine.

Everything changed last year after the lawsuit. DM's crack down like nobody's business on stuff like that now.

[noiseredux]

The best/worst analogy is that it's like a car or a book on the shelf at a store. You can get the fresh and completely new ones for a good while when they come out, or even order one in advance. But don't expect to come by months later and grab one that doesn't have a few miles on it or some weathering. You can argue all you want, but it's the definition of new that's being argued and the games themselves haven't been played. If you see a store checking out new games to an employee report it to your local district manager and see it all stop, fast.

that's bullshit though. If I buy my games at Best Buy then I can expect to not have a gutted one now matter how long ago the release date.